Saving Lilly

Gr 3-6-Erin Wrenn learns about animal cruelty in circuses while researching for a school report. When her sixth-grade class earns a field trip in a reading competition, it turns out to be to a circus owned by a relative of the teacher. When the performers arrive, some of the kids see Lilly the elephant unloaded using painful hooks and notice other signs of mistreatment. Erin convinces most of the class to stay in school on the day of the field trip and together the classmates decide to raise money to buy Lilly in order to send her to an elephant sanctuary. The circus owner sets the purchase price at $8000, and the students start on a three-week project of raising that amount through car washes, lawn mowing, baby-sitting, etc. The plot moves quickly from event to event leading to Lilly's release. Characterization is slight, but the story does show how determined children can make a difference. Animal cruelty issues are explored naturally throughout. The main appeal of this story will be to animal lovers.-Jean Gaffney, Dayton and Montgomery County Public Library, Miamisburg, OH Copyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.